How to Steal a Surrealist Painting Surreally

Art theft is a terrible problem worldwide. Aside from robbing the public of enjoying the great works of the past, art theft often leads to damage to the art and involvement with organized crime, who see great art with established monetary value as a readymade kind of currency. However, the recent theft of Salvador Dalí’s 1949 painting Cartel de Don Juan Tenorio on June 19^th and its subsequent return on June 30^th adds a fittingly surreal twist to the taking of a work by the arch surrealist (shown above). Not to condone art theft in any way and not to make light of breaking the law, but is it possible to see this caper as a work of art itself? Is it permissible to steal a surrealist painting surreally? Please come over to Picture This at Big Think to read more of "How to Steal a Surrealist Painting Surreally."

Is Parasitism the Future of Feminist Art?

Feminist art has always dealt with a fundamental problem—male art. Frida had her Diego, Krasner had her Pollock, and on and on. What exactly is the best relationship between art of the two sexes? In a recent set of papers on Art and Education, Anna Watkins Fisher suggests that the future of feminist art might be as a parasite, unashamedly feeding on male art as a source for its own art. Holding the work of artist Roisin Byrne as a prime example, Fisher examines in “We Are Parasites: On the Politics of Imposition” how emulating the actions of a parasite in nature might be the best way for feminist art to find fresh territory. As unappealing as it may sound, is parasitism the future of feminist art? Please come over to Picture This at Big Think to read more of "Is Parasitism the Future of Feminist Art?"

[Image: Roisin Byrne. Diamonds Are Forever.]